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Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 | 2:01 a.m.
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The Sun's opinion page provides a wide range of opinion about the start of the 2013 Legislature.
From the Sun:
The Sun's editorial Break the status quo.
Brian Greenspun's "Where I Stand" column.
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Elected officials
Senate Minority Leader Michael Roberson
Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey
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Political scientist
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Political journalists
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Have your own opinion?
Write a letter to the editor.
Nevada’s economy has picked up over the past year, and although the recovery is not as fast as anyone would like, there are positive signs, from new projects on the Strip to businesses moving here.
As the Legislature opens its session Monday, lawmakers should be encouraged by that good news, but they shouldn’t forget the lessons from the Great Recession.
Two years ago, lawmakers and Gov. Brian Sandoval took a step by confronting the state’s lack of economic diversity and pushing to develop businesses and bring new industries here. Their work has shown progress, notably Apple’s plans to build a data center in Reno, and lawmakers will have a chance to stoke the effort this year.
But there’s more to do than attract companies. The recession, which seemed to single out Nevada, laid bare the state’s problems, including poor student achievement, an inequitable tax system and a lack of investment in public services.
Not that those problems are a surprise; they’ve festered for years and are quite well-known. Reports and rankings show how Nevada lags behind the rest of the nation in the number and quality of services.
Unfortunately, Nevadans have become inured to such news. The recent news that Nevada’s education system ranked dead last in the nation didn’t exactly send shock waves through the state. Perhaps there’s a lack of perspective. Shouldn’t it bother Nevadans that a major improvement in educational achievement would result in a ranking that some parts of the country would still consider only mediocre?
The painful reality of the state’s situation should jolt us all out of accepting things for what they are, and that’s why this session of the Legislature is so important. The recession put the state’s problems into clear focus, and lawmakers and the governor should act with a sense of urgency before that clarity is gone.
That means that the status quo in Carson City needs to end. It can’t be acceptable anymore for elected leaders to push off the problems to a future time when things are better. That time never seems to come, and that type of thinking is how Nevada arrived in this position. Too few people have been willing to risk the political consequences of making difficult decisions to solve the state’s problems.
There may be no better example of that than the avoidance in addressing the state’s tax structure, which underpins many of the state’s problems. Our tax policies are unfair and fail to provide a stable stream of revenue for government services. That’s not just our opinion; that has been the conclusion of many analysts and studies over the past few decades. But leaders in Carson City have been unable to muster the political will to make the needed changes. The result is many businesses go virtually tax-free. And in the process, public education and other services have been underfunded, and the recession only made things worse.
This year, lawmakers are expected to debate taxes, but that’s only one of a host of major issues, which include education, health care, transportation and social services.
All of that won’t get done in the Legislature’s 120-day session, but state leaders do have a chance to make a real impact. If they avoid rote political posturing, look beyond the next election and consider how their actions will shape Nevada over the next 30 years, they have a chance to courageously shape Nevada and put the state on the path toward a prosperous future.
Nevada’s future starts tomorrow. There’s no time to waste, and this is no time for wimps.
SUN says "Our tax policies are unfair and fail to provide a stable stream of revenue for government services."
With rising economy we will get increased revenue with no changes
If the reform the SUN want replace one stream with another WITH NO INCREASE IN TAXES then things can happen - and the revenue will rise with the economy.
If you just attempt to increase taxes not reform the the movement fails.
Economic signs are improving ever so slightly in Las Vegas and Nevada. Let's not derail them by assuming that the economy will continue to grow and get better. Let's make sure it is truly on the road to recovery before we start to make changes.
CarmineD
Pray for boldness. Hope for mediocrity.
Look for protesters with the worlds largest CRIME SCENE banners and angry citizens to march at with pitchforks and burning torches to greet the 2013 Nevada Lawmakers. http://NevadaStatePersonnelWATCH.wordpre...
I applaude every thing the editorial said on the bleak standings of education here in the Clark County School System (I can only speak of that which I know), but I wonder now as I have since my son was in the first grade (He's a senior at UNLV now)... WHEN? WHEN are we going to see these needed improvements?
I find it so hard to believe our "Leaders" can't see the future writing on the wall. We will NOT be a successful state until we address the problems in education!
Short and sweet, that's all I have to say... WHEN?
JohnCheney88
Let's face it, we have elected politicians with little to no political will to bring any real and meaningful CHANGE. Both parties are simply sleep walking their way into this up-coming Nevada State Legislative Session. The proof is this: where are we reading or hearing any elected politician taking a stand in the media??? FACT: nothing is being said.
Many of us grew up during a time where folks had courage and a backbone, and got things done. What happened?
During the last Nevada State Legislation, it fell short of making parents/caregivers and students accountable for their parts in education; only the administrators and teachers were addressed with the new state evaluation system. NOW is the time to put ENforcement teeth in the mandated, yearly signed public school, taxpayer funded, "PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ACCORD." Education will NOT improve until ALL parties involved are held accountable and responsible. This is a "revenue-neutral" issue, as we already have those who can enforce, if given the power to do so: administrators, school counselors, school police, truant officers, office clerks, and the juvenile justice system.
Our country must have an educated populace, as does our state, for us to remain strong.
Blessings and Peace,
Star
Lack of diversity and lack of real discussion. A respectful note should be truly consider future of state, Nevada.